Page end indicator



May 15, 1956 A. R. BRUN PAGE END INDICATOR mm. W r 1 B. W w r W .5 12

Filed April 22, 1953 ATTORNEYB'` May 15, 1956 A R, BRUN 2,745534 PAGE END INDICATOR Filed April 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Shee'c 2 IN VENTOR Auwfi Bam,

May 15, 1956 Av R. BRUN 2745534 PAGE END INDICATOR Filed April 22, 1955 3 SheflS-Sheet 3 NVENTOR ATTORNE YS.

United States Patent 2,745,534 Patented May 15, 1956 PAGE END INDICATGR Alberto R. Bnin, Caracas, Venezuela Application April 22, 1953, Serial No. 359,284

8 Claiins. (Cl. 37-189) This invention relates to improvements in a page end indicator for typewriters, and more particularly to an irnproved attachment for a typewriter which is Cooperatively engaged by the sheet of typewritng paper therein so as to provide warning means to the operator when the lower end of the paper is disengaged from the indi- Cator.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved, sirnplified page end indicator which is easily secured to the paper guide of a typewriter in Cooperable relation with the sheet which is drawn therethrough by the rotatable feeding platen so that suitable signal means are actuated when the Sheet disengages itself from the indicator.

lt is another object of this invention to provide a Warning device which is visual as well as audible and will, therefore, Continue to warn the operator that the page end is being approached.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple, compact and inexpensive indicating device which is adapted for mounting and securing upon the type- Writer paper guide in a manner which renders it hnmediately and easily remoyable.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device which need not be removed from the typewriter paper guide when not in use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are designated to like parts of the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the base of this invention is formed.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the base of this invention before assembly.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the bell Crank of this invention is formed.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the bell Crank of this invention before assembly.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the invention assembled.

Figure 6 is a front elevation showing the invention assembled.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the blank from which a modified base of this invention is formed.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the modified base of this invention before assembly.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the blank from which a modified bell Crank of this invention is formed.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the modified bell Crank before assembly, and Figure 10a is a helical coil spring attached to the hell Crank of Figure 10.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of a preferred embodiment of this invention showing it mcunted in operative position on a typewriter.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary front elevation of a pre- Vin Figure z 2 ferred embodiment of this invention showing it in operative position on a typewriter.

The invention comprises an inverted, U-shaped clip, adapted to fit over and grip the upstanding portion of a typewriter paper guide. Pivotally attached to the left or outside portion of this clip is a bell Crank shaped member, spring urged to pivot rearwardly, thereby bringing a visual signal object into view in so doing. In addition to the visual signal object, the bell Crank can also be adapted to sound an audible signal. The U-shaped Clip has a flange portion extending inwardly, adjacent and parallel to the typewriter platen. The bell Crank has a corresponding ilange which is disposed beneath the U clip fiange when the bell Crank is rotated forward into a spring loaded position. By placing a sheet of paper between these two fianges, the bell Crank is retained in this forward position by contact of the bell Crank fiange with the under side of the paper. When the bottom edge of the paper passes from between these two transversely extending fianges, the restraint on the bell Crank flange is removed and the bell Crank is free to rotate rearwai'dly, bringing the visual signal into view and thereby warning the typist that the bottom edge of the paper is approaching. At the sarne time a bell may be sounded by the bell Crank in order to add emphasis to the warning.

ln the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown prcferred embodiments of my invention, the numeral 10 (Figures 5 and 6) designates the assembled page end indicator. The base piece 11, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, consists of an outside portion 12 and an inside portion 13 which is folded about dotted line 14 to form a U-shaped resilient Clip which may be adjustably and slidably placed over the upstanding portion of a paper guide 15 found on any standard typewriter 16 (Figures 11 and 12). The fiange portion 17 (Figure 1) is folded along dotted line 18 so as to project transversely from outside portion 2 in a plane parallel to the typewriter platen li) (Figure 12) when inside and outside portions 12 and E3 are secured over the upstanding portion '15 of the paper guide as above described. The lower left hand corner 29 of outside portion 12 (Figure 1) is folded along dotted line 21 upwardly from the position shown to form a fiange extending transversely from the outside face 12. Latch finger 22. is formed by folding this small projection upwardly about dotted line 23 so as to also extend transversely from the outside face 12. Hole 24' and recess 25 are forrned in the outside and inside faces respectively, for joining the bell Crank 26 to base member 12 as will now be described.

The 'Dell Crank 26 (Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6) may be made from a flat piece of stock of the Shape shown whei'ein this bell Crank has visual signal plate 27 secured thereto and which is folded 90 about dotted line 28 so as to project transversely upwardly from the position shown. Finger portion 29 is folded downwardly 93 from the position shown in Figure 3 about dotted line 3G. Latch fiange 31 is also folded downwardly 90 about dotted line 32 and a hole 33 is punched at the juncture of the arms 34 and 35 of the bell Crank 26 for alignment with hole 24 (Figure 1) formed in the base piece 11.

When base piece 11 and hell Crank 26 are fabricated as above described, they are pivotally secured together by means of rivet 35' (Figures 5 and 6) which passes through holes 24 and 33 (Fignres 1 and 3). A Coil spring 36 (Fignre 5 having one end secured to base piece 11 in hole 37 and the other end secured to the bell Crank 26 in hole 38 serves to rotatably urge bell Crank 26 against fiange member 20 of base piece 11.

When bell Crank 25 is rotated away from fiange member 2%, latCh fiange 31 slides along the arcuate portion 39 of latch finger 22 forcing the bell Crank laterally away from base piece 11 to a slight degree. As latch flange 31 reaches the apex of latch finger 22 the nherent resiiiency of bell Crank 26, which tends to resist transverse movement, causes the bell Crank to snap back into its normal plane Whereby placing the face of latch flange 31 in contact with the acute edge 40 of latch finger 22 (Figure 6). With these two latch portions in engagement, bell crank 26 is prevented from rotating toward fiange 2%, in order to release bell Crank 26 from this latcbed position, it is merely necessary to exert slight sidewaysrpressure to the left against the upstanding portion 54 of the bell crank, which Springs the latch members 22 and 51 apart and permits spring 36 to rotate bell Crank 26 back into contact with flange 20.

In order that this motion of the bell crank in relation to the base piece may serve to function as a signal to the typist, flange member 27 is painted a Color 41 which is in sharp Contrast to the other portions of the indicator. For instance, if the indicator is basically black, the outside face of fiange 27 might be painted white, red, orange or some other distinctive color so as to attract the typistis eye when this flange comes into her line of vision. To further attract the typist's attention, a small object 42 (Figure ll) may be suspended from hole 43 at the bottom of flange 27 which will dangle and swing about to further assist in attracting the typist's eye. For instance, a polyhedron may be used wherein the facets of the object will refiect a small amount of light as it swings suspended from fiange 27. An alternative auxiliary attachment to the colored flange 27 is a small bell 44 (Figures 5 and 6) suspended from the lower surface of this flange which will give a slight tinkling sound when bell Crank 26 is rotated. Small belis of the variety which are popularly referred to as sleigh bells are satisfactory for this purpose, although any Small sound creating device might function equally well.

i In operation, base piece 11 is clipped over the upstanding portion 15 (Figures 11 and 12) of a standard paper guide 15 as above described and bell crank 26 is rotatcd downwardly away from fiange 20 into latched engagement With base piece 11 in the manner above set forth. This movement rotates finger member 29 to a position parallel to and vertically spaced below fiange 17 (Figures 6, 11 and 12). A sheet of typewriter paper may now be inserted into the typewriter in the usual manner using the from each other (Figure 6) and bell crank 26 will tend to be rotatably spring-urged toward fiange 25. However, because the paper is between the lower edge 45 of iiange 17 and the top surface'of finger member 22 (Fignre 11), rotation of bell crank 26 is prevented when finger member 29 Contacts the under surface of the paper which is sufii- Ciently rigid to prevent any upward movement of the finger. As the typing progresses, the paper is fed between flange 17 and finger 29 and around platen 1%. When the bottom edge of the paper reaches the lower edge 45 of the fiange 17 (Figure 11), the upward pressure of the finger 29 overcomes the lessening rigidity of the paper and spring 36 causes the bell crank 26 to rotate in a snapping manner back to its normal position of rest against view of the sight of the operator and indicates that the lower portion of the paper is being approached. At the same time, if a small bell 44 is depending from the signal flange 27, it is energized and gives off an audible signal, but because such signal may be confused With the margin bell, which is standard equipment on all typewriters, the visual signal serves as a Constant reminder, which cannot be easily ignored, that the bottom portion of the page is approaching.

A modification of this invention contemplates slight changes of the base piece and bell crank wherein the base piece is extended longitudinally so as to provide a bell supporting arm, and the bell crank is modified to provide a clapper with which to strike the bell. All other portions of the base and bell crank remain basically unchanged.

A blank 46 (Figure 7), from which the base piece 47 (Figure 8) of this modified page end indicator is formed, has an elongated outside face 48, in addition to portions Corresponding to those of the base piece 11 (Figure 1) such as inside portion 49, latch finger 50, and flange portion 51 having paper contacting lower edge 52. A hole 53 is formed near the elongated end of outside face 48 for securing a bell 54 thereto. The assembly of the bell 54 to the formed base 47 is shown in Figure 8 wherein the bell is attached by a rivet 55 to the base piece outside face 48.

Bell crank 56 (Figure 10) is formed from a blank'57 (Figure 9) which is similar to bell crank 26 (Figures 3 and 4) with the exception of the addition of an extension 58 the end of which is folded upwardly about dotted line 59 to form a bell clapper portion 6%. Visual signal fiange 61 having a hole 62 for suspending a dangling object such as polyhedron 42 (Figure 11) fiange 48', crank arms 63 and 64, latch fiange 65, and holes 66 and 66' Correspond to similar portions of bell crank 26 (Figures 3 and 4). w

Hole 66' (Figures 9 and 10) corresponding to hole 38 (Figure 3) has been shifted Closer to hole 66. 111 this modification, it is contemplated that plane tension spring 70' (Figure 10a) be fastened at one end into hole 48" of flange 48' and at the other end into hole 66' of bell crank 56 when base piece 47 and bell crank 56 are assembled together. A spring such as 36 (Figures 5 and 6) is not adaptable for use-in this modified form of the invention since it would cause the bell clapper portion 60 to remain in contact with the bell 54 after having struck it, thus damping the sound. lt is desirable, therefore, to use a spring 70' (Figure 10a) which will allow the clapper 60 to rebound away from the bell 54 after the bell has been struck. This result is obtained by the use of spring 70' and by the proper location of the hole V66' to which one end of the spring is attached in the bell crank member 64.

lu assembly, hole 66 of bell crank 56 is placed Concentric with hole 67 of base piece 47 so that a fastening member such as rivet 35' (Figures 5 and 6) may pass thercbetween to secure the bell Crank to the base piece as above described relative to the assembly of the first discussed embodiment of this invention.

In the modified form, the parts of which are shown in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, in addition to a visual signal 61 beingemployed, bell crank clapper 69 Strikes bell 54 with its lower edge 68, thereby rendering a louder audible signal than is obtained from a device such as bell 44 suspended from a visual signal fiange 27 (Figure 6). if desired, bell 44 may be suspended from visual iiange 61 to augment the sound of clapper 60 (Figure 10) striking bell 54 (Figure 8).` The placing of paper in the typewriter and between edge 52 of base piece 47 and face 69 of finger portion 70 is the same in the modification as in the first discussed embodirnent and has already been described.

The width of the lower margin which the invention Will indicate may be regulated by adjustably sliding the base piece 11, Figure 2, or base piece 47, Figure 8,

higher or lower on the paper guide 15. If it is not desired to make use of the device, it need not be removed from the typewriter machine, rather it may simply be left in place, wherein the inside face 13 of the base piece 11 will serve the place of the standard paper guide 15.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as a preferred assembly of the same, in that various changes in the Shape, size and arrangement of the parts may bc resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a typewriter having a paper support, a rotatable paper feeding platen adjacent its lower edge and a paper guide on said support disposed at right angles to said platen, a page end indicator comprising: a stationary bracket; a paper contacting arrn projecting transversely from said bracket; a bell crank pivotally secured to said bracket having a paper contactng arm projecting transversely therefrom, said contacting arms being vertically spaced apart so as to permit paper to pass therebetween when said bell crank is in a lower rotated position; interengaging fingers on said bracket and said bell crank for releasably holding said contacting arms in vertically spaced relation so as to permit paper to be fed therebetween; and means for rotating said bell crank upwardly when the paper has passed from between said paper contacting arms.

2. The device set forth in claim 1, said bell crank carryng a visual signal device of contrasting color attached to said bracket, said signal device being rotated into view as said bell crank is rotated upwardly.

3. The device set forth in claim 1, said bracket carrying a sounding device, and said bell crank carrying a means for energizing said sounding device When rotated into contact with said sounding device.

4. The device set forth in claim 1, said bell crank carrying a sound signaling means which is energized when said bell crank is rotated upwardly.

5. In a typewriter having a paper support, a rotatable paper feeding platen adjacent its lower edge and a paper guide on said support disposed at right angles to said platen, a page end indicator comprising: a resilient clip-on bracket slidably and adjustably mounted on said guide and having a lower flange portion extending at right angles inwardly from said bracket and parallel to said platen, an upper flange portion extending outwardly at right angles to said bracket, and a finger intermediate said upper and lower portions extending outwardly from said bracket; a bell crank lever pivotally fastened to the outside face of said bracket and having a lower finger portion extending inwardly at right angles to said bell crank and parallel to said platen, an intermediate flange portion extending inwardly for latching engagement with said bracket intermediate finger portion, and a fiange portion extending outwardly at right angles to said bell crank, said last mentioned fiange portion being of distinctive, eye arresting color contrasting to said bracket and having audible signal means depending thereform, said bell crank being spring urged to rotate upwardly into engagement with said bracket upper fiange portion when in the unlatched position and being spaced apart from said braeket upper fiange portion when rotated downwardly, where'oy said bell crank lower finger portion is spaced beneath and parallel to said bracket lower fiange portion, and is retained in this position when paper is placed therebetween so as to trip said bell crank for rotation upwardly when said paper passes from between said last mentioned finger portion and flange portion.

6. A page end indicator comprising a bracket for mounting on a paper guide of a typewriter, said bracket having a flange extending therefrom for engagernent with the upper surface of a page inserted in said type- Writer adjacent said guide, a bell crank pivoted to said braclie't, said bell crank having a flange extending therefrom for engagement with the lower surface of said page adjacent said bracket lange, said bell crank being biased to pivot into a signaling position wherein said bell crank fiange is moved upwardly away from said bracket fiange, and means on said bell crank providing a signal to the operator when said bell crank is biased into its signaling position due to the disengagement of the page end from between said fianges.

7. A page end indicator as defined in claim 6 including interengaging means on said bracket and said bell crank for releasably holding the latter in a page feeding position wherein said bell crank fiange is spaced below said bracket fiange.

8. A page end indicator comprising a bracket including a pair of vertically disposed portions connected in horizontally spaced relation for mounting on a paper guide of a typewriter, one of said Vertical portions having a fiange extending transversely from the forward edge thereof for engagement with the upper surface of a page inserted in said typewriter, a bell crank pivoted to at least one of said Vertical portions about a transverse horizontal axis, said bell crank having a fiange eX- tending transversely therefrom for engagement with the lower surface of said page adjacent said bracket flange, a spring connected between said bracket and said bell crank for pivoting the latter into a signaling position due to the disengagement of the page end from between said fianges, and means carried by said bell crank for providing a signal to the operator when said bell crank is pivoted into its signaling position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 722,625 Podlich Mar. 10, 1903 2,271,414 Brun Jan. 27, 1942 2,586,489 Thomas Feb. 19, 1952 

